Saturday 24 October 2015

Horses for courses.

I hate to admit that there are some jobs which men seem to be better at than women (and vice versa) but today there has been a case in point.

The farmer's shooting season has started today and he set off to join the shooters as they reached our land at around 10am, packed lunch in his rucksack and good, strong walking stick in his hand.   He doesn't shoot but likes to go along for the ride and to act as part time beater when necessary.

I had various jobs lined up.   I had to go into town with a little list of jobs.   As I went out of the door (trying to avoid the accusing look of one Border Terrier who thought she had a right to come with me), I had such a performance locking the mortice lock on the kitchen door.   It is never easy but was particularly hard today.

Then into town to the electrical shop for some halogen bulbs.   Our halogen lights in the kitchen blew a bulb last night and we used our last one as a replacement.  Then, leaving the car outside the shop, I walked up the hill to buy a bottle of wine for tonight when we have been invited out for a meal.   Then it was a walk back to the car again and a drive to the Library to change my library books.

An hour later I arrived back home to find that the key would not unlock the door.  I tried and tried, to no avail.   Tess sat just inside and watched as I repeatedly tried to unlock it but nothing happened.
Luckily there was a young man working in the yard so I went to get him - could he help?   No - he tried and tried but nothing would budge.

Then I remembered that somewhere in the depths of the farmer's drawer 'for everything' there was a spare key.   I didn't want to ring him and interrupt his day's activities, so I took everything out until I found the key.   It wouldn't open the door either.

But after fiddling with it for a minute or two C got it to work and at least I got into the house.   So a massive thanks young man - you really helped me out of a hole.

I had only been back about a quarter of a hour when the door bell rang.  I went immediately to the door but there was nobody there.That is still a mystery.   Then ten minutes later my carabinieri, which is made of wood and is quite large, suddenly fell off the wall with a loud clatter.

Is somebody trying to tell me something here?   I am glad it is still daylight outside and that the farmer will be back before dark!!  Come off it ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night - Hallowe'en is next week end not this week end.

21 comments:

SandyExpat said...

I had to google "Horses for Courses" never having heard this growing up in Suffolk. It certainly fits you trying to get in your house. I am so glad the young man was nearby and helped you succeed. Expect the farmer will get this all sorted once he returns.

I don't know what to say about the door bell ringing etc. odd indeed and scary.

I hope the remainder of your Saturday is uneventful. Enjoy your evening out with friends.

Mac n' Janet said...

One word, poltergeist. Your house has been taken over by an adolescent spirit, you'll have to drive it out. LOL

Bovey Belle said...

I have had a lot of recent . . . "activity" too - my mixer keeps turning itself on, for example. I wonder if someone is trying to say to you, I thought I'd nobbled that door! I wish the one who has hidden my crochet hook would put it back where for me!

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

There was a rap-rap-rapping at my door the other day - I have a clear view of the windows nearby and if anyone had passed by on the way to the door I would have seen them - and I saw nothing - neither coming nor going - and no one was at the door - hmmmmmm Things that go bump in the night. I'm also missing a little purse that I made for my doll - it was on her arm - I picked her up - turned around and placed her down on the sideboard for photos and the purse has completely disappeared - completely. Where could it have gone in those 2 feet between the table and the sideboard?????

Dawn said...

Our dog makes a dash for the door every time he hears car keys being picked up, perhaps the dog was doing some telepathic work on the door because you left her behind :-)

angryparsnip said...

Goodness !

cheers, parsnip

Midmarsh John said...

Some years ago I had a mortice lock seize up. I ended up having to borrow a hacksaw blade from a neighbour to saw through the 'bolt'. Good job it was an old one and not tempered steel.
I've had a doorbell event like that occasionally. Here it seemed to be after really heavy rain had got in the bell push.
Ooer - I think several events like that would have spooked me too.

Rachel Phillips said...

In my house I would have to sort it.

Rachel Phillips said...

Perhaps there was a mini earthquake in the Dales.

The History Anorak said...

carabinieri?

Terra said...

Those were some odd happenings at your house when you were on your own.

Heather said...

If these things happened next week you would feel really 'spooked'! Our front door lock had to be replaced when it became unreliable, but I have no explanation for the other two occurrences.

A Heron's View said...

Oh those odd noises happen here in our old house at this time of the year.
The scrapes of a chair being dragged over the floor, rattles and bangs in the kitchen, and odd wafts of perfumes. We look at each other and say
"The old ones are returning" - meaning the former and deceased residents.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Hopefully you did get it over this weekend. Sounds like a lovely day before all that. Might need to open that wine before you go to the dinner.

bjn said...

I googled the object that fell from your wall and got Italian policeman??????

donna baker said...

I'm just glad you weren't dining on horse this evening.

Cro Magnon said...

From my experience Italian Cops are rarely wooden; more like excitable.

Frances said...

How long had that Italian policeman been on your wall….he probably got fed up and jumped off! I once heard a loud " wailing" at my mother's house……no explanation at all. ( it wasn't my mother!!)

thelma said...

Unexplained events, always exciting, though the key misbehaving is annoying, my motto - never panic - it really does jam the key in the lock ;)

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Glad you got in the house. It can take the wind out of your sails being locked out. I hope the key is in working order soon.

One has to be extra careful when the negative forces are at work. The last two weeks one finger or another has been almost either caught and bent or sliced by various edges in too many moments of in the nick of time, to not have me on alert.
It seems to me when the Moon is waxing little mishaps around the house increase. The Full Moon this month is this Tuesday, 27 October.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Sorry, remember after I posted...I recall once a lock not working like it should. Somebody told me it might be because somebody had tried to pick the lock and bent something in the mechanism.